Multiple operation of vapor electric devices.



R. E. RUSSELL.

MULTIPLE OPERATION OF VAPOR ELECTRIC DEVICES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPTJB, 1905.

921 ,893. I Patented May 18, 1909.

UNITED STATESHPATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT E. RUSSELL, OF SCHENE GTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIO COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

MUTIPLE OPERATION OF VAPOR ELECTRIC DEVICES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 18, 1909.

Application filed September 18, 1905. Serial No. 278,876.

To all whom "it may concern:

Schenectady,

county of Schenectady, and State of New York, have invented certain which the following is a specification.

In the multiple operation of vapor electric devices such as mercury electric lamps or rectifiers, difliculty is sometimes experienced in making the devices properly divide the current orload between them with the result that one device may take all of the current while the other goes out. The device which remains in operation apparently robs the other of current so that the value of current in the latter decreases below that value at which it could maintain an arc, and the apparatus then ceases operation entirely. It is customary in order to make devices of "this character operate'in multiple to connect iii) in each cathode lead a resistance or inductance device. Even with this arrangement, however, difliculty is sometimes experienced owing to the irregularities in the winding of the compensating 'reactance used with the rectifier or lamp. My present invention provides means whereby this trouble may e overcome and the rectifiers caused to operate properly in multiple with each other.

The novel features which characterize my invention 1 have pointed out with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itse1f,'however, will be better understood by reference to the following description taken in conncction with the accompanying drawin s which re resent diagrammatically one em odiment my invention.

In the drawings, I have represented a system embodying two mercury va or rectifiers arranged to operate in multip e though it is \to be understood that my invention is applicable also to vapor electric lamps. The rectifier 1 comprises an evacuated envelop or receptacle of glass rovided with main anodes 2 and 3, usualy of artificial gpaphite, a mercury cathode 5, and an ans;-

j rectifiers. i sired to raise the voltage supplied to the recnew and useful Improvements in Multiple Operation of Vapor Electric Devices, of i 5 These reactances are connected across the Be it known that I, Runner l2. RussELL, a 1 citizen of the United States, rcsiding at alternating current leads which supply current to the main anodes of the respective In some cases, where it is detifier, these compensating reactances may have certain additional turns in series with the anode leads as indicated, whereby the voltage applied to the anodes is raised or boosted.

'lhe loadcurrentfor each rectifier, as is well understood, flows in a circuit between the cathode and a junction point between the coils of the corresponding compensating rcactance. When the two rectifiers are to supply a common load, these circuits are placed in multiple with each other across the load. Thus, in the drawings thereturn conductors 14 and 22 of the two rectifiers respectively are joined together as indicated while the cathodes are adapted to be connected together by the switches 29 and 30. A switch 15 connects these circuits to the load.

In starting up the ap aratus, it is convenient to start t e recti ers separately on a starting resistance. Thus, the rectifier 1 is started on a resistance 26 which takes the place temporarily of the load. A switch connects this resistance in circuit while the switches 29 and 27 serve for the time being to isolate the rectifier, while starting, from connection with the other rectifier 17 or with the main load. After being started up in the usual manner, the rectifier is connected to the load by the switch 29. The resistance 26 is then cut out of circuit. The rectifier 17 is similarl started and, when connected with the loa is thus in multiple with the recti- In ordinary installations, equalizing reactances 6 and 18 are connected res ectivel in series with the cathode leads of the recti ers and serveito make the rectifiers divide the load pro erly and thus revent one rectifier from robhing the other 0 current and putting it out of o eration. It sometimes happens, however, t at the compensating reactances such as 11, 12, 19 and 20 are more or less unequal in value due to accidental causes in manufacture or for other reasons so that even with the presence of the equalizing reactances 6 and 18, the rectifiers fail to work properly in multiple. 1 have found that this trouble may be overcome by placing in series with the alternating current supply leads impedance devices such as the inductance coils 16 and 21. The tendency for one rectifier to take more current than the other is counterbalanced by the reactance corresponding to that rectifier, which reactance t en consumes more voltage and reduces the voltage supplied to the rectifier. The incipient increase in current 'is thus checked by Letters Patent of the United States, is,--

1. The combination of. a plurality of vapor electric devices connected in multiple with each other,.a source of alternating current for supplying "said vapor electric devices, equalizing devices in circuit with the direct current leads of said vapor electric devices respectively, and impedances connected respectively in series with the alternating-current supply circuits of said vapor electric devices. I

2. The combination of a source of alternating current, a plurality of vapor electric devices supplied therefrom and connected in multiple with each other, and means traversed by alternating current in the suppiy circuits of said devices for controlling the distribution of current between or among 'same source of'current, reactive means connected across the anodes of each rectifier, and impedances interposed between said reactive means and said source to compensate for any inequality in said reactive means.

5. The combination of'a plurality of vapor.

rectifier units operating in parallel on the same load, anodesfor saidrectifiers, a source of current connected to said anodes, and a single impedance device for each rectifier interposed between an anode and said source an in the path of alternating current flowing from said source.

- 6. The combination of a source of alternating current, a plurality of vapor electric devices supplied therefrom and connected in multiple with each other, and means for each of said devices for controlling the distribution of current between or among said devices, said means being connected in the sup ply circuit of the corresponding device and being traversed by alternating current.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this th day of September, 1905.

ROBERT E. RUSSELL.

l/Vitnesses:

G. C. HOLLISTER, HELEN ORFORD. 

